At last – construction drawings for the sailing version of the Ella skiff

The sailing version of the Ella skiff. Click on the image for a zip file including the plans to build this little boat

I’ve really had to scrabble to find time to get this together – but here is the much awaited sailing version of the 12ft Ella skiff. There’s a lot of design work in sailing boat!

If you use these plans, all I ask in return are some photos, and reports on how the building works and on how she works in the water. However I must emphasise that I’m an amateur with no qualifications and accept no liability for any loss injury or accident that occurs as a result of anyone using or building this boat.

I should add that this is not a boat for big seas, strong winds and currents or for use with an outboard of over one or two hp. It’s a small, narrow flattie with all the limitations that go with this kind of boat. That said, in the right gentle weather conditions I think it will be great fun anywhere one can find flat sheltered water.

8 thoughts on “At last – construction drawings for the sailing version of the Ella skiff”

Sweet! Well done Gavin- I'm going to try to get a model built soon and will keep you apprised. One question about the PDF's- they all have funny bar-code looking characters instead of text. I'm thinking it must be a translation between you and my Mac, or possibly a font I don't have. Any thoughts on that? The dxf files open up in QCAD just fine, so I can print from those, at least.

Thanks for the great plans!! Allthough i did come across the same problem on my mac too. I am finding it hard to get my hands on some epoxy tape, can anyone point me in the right direction by giving me an Online address where i could buy it and get it delivered to me. I will start building in a couple of months when it is warmer, thanks.

hi my name is john form the solomon islands and whould like to interact with some boat builders and their to share ideas on this topics. i am thinking of setting up a workshop for fabrication of such persenal projects and whould like to hear from seasoned builders

Hi, I could read a lot about building projects, but still did not find an user experience on how the Ella Skiff is sailing. Can you help me?
I made last winter my first experiences in stitch & glue while building a small plywood toy boat with Ella Skiff hull for my daughter. Now I want to make the next, “serious” step and build a larger version (scale 1:5) with exactly using the same boat building techniques like for the full size boat. Before doing this my question is, whether the Ella Skiff is big enough as a day sailing boat for two adults?
Best regards,
Rolf

Ben Crawshaw’s book about cruising the Mediterranean in a craft made using free boat plans

The Running Tide – Gavin Atkin’s online album of songs for singing sailors

A new magazine: Classic Sailor

Classic Sailor is a new magazine about traditional and classic boats from ex-Classic Boat editor Dan Houston and colleagues that promises rather more coverage of the traditional craft around our coast. I think we should wish them well... Find out more here.

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Boatbuilding help available

Our Faversham-based friend Alan Thorne can help with boatbuilding projects - constructing to plans in very tidy stitch-and-glue or more traditional techniques. Contact him by email at ajthorne3@hotmail.com or phone 07865 091155